"The Pirate" at Teatro Real.

5-10 Sept 2006. St Petersburgs prestigious Mariinsky Ballet company presents El Corsario (The Pirate) at the Teatro Real. One of Russian ballets most enduringly popular works, El Corsario is a ballet in three acts based on the poem The Corsaire by Lord Byron. First performed in Paris in 1856, the ballet has since undergone a number of revisions. This production uses Pyotr Gusevs choreography (1955) based on Marius Petipas original, with additions to Adolphe Adams score by Cesare Pugni, Lo Delibes, Riccardo Drigo and Pyotr Oldenburgsky. The story opens with a shipwreck on the Greek coast during the Turkish occupation. Three pirates are cast ashore, and then rescued by a group of young Greek girls, including the beautiful Medora. One of the pirates, Conrad, falls in love with Medora but Turkish patrols, evil slave traders and Seid Pasha and his harem contrive to complicate their romance. Valery Ovsiannikov directs the Madrid Symphony Orchestra. Set design by Teymuraz Murvanidze. Opening night 110-9, other performances 95-7.50. Tues-Sun at 20.00.